Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
57/129. International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming that peacekeeping continues to be among the key instruments available to the United Nations in discharging its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security,
Recognizing the invaluable contribution to the promotion of peace and security of all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and recalling in this regard the awarding of the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations peacekeeping forces,
Recognizing also the sacrifice of all the men and women who lost their lives in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and recalling in this regard the establishment by the Security Council of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal,
Bearing in mind that the Security Council, by its resolution 50 (1948) of 29 May 1948, authorized the establishment of the first United Nations peacekeeping operation, and recognizing that 2003 marks the fifty-fifth anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping,
Recalling its resolution 56/225 B of 22 May 2002, in which, inter alia, it endorsed the proposals, recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, including its recommendation that 29 May be designated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers,
1. Decides to designate 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to be observed annually to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace;
2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in an appropriate manner;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and organizations of the United Nations system.
73rd plenary meeting
11 December 2002
Women in Peacekeeping: The Power to Empower
Over the past six decades, United Nations peacekeeping has evolved into one of the main tools used by the international community to manage complex crises that threaten international peace and security. Today, more than 110,000 men and women serve as peacekeepers – military, police and civilian – in 16 peacekeeping operations around the world, from the arid lands of Darfur, to the mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the shores of Haiti. The number of countries that now contribute police and military personnel has reached 120, an all time high. This participation not only bolsters the strength of UN operations; it is also a clear demonstration of widespread respect for, dependence on and confidence in United Nations peacekeeping.
In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted its landmark Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. For the first time in an omnibus resolution, the Council recognized that women bear the brunt of armed conflicts, and should have a commensurate role in their prevention and resolution.
The resolution stressed the importance of women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Among its many recommendations, the resolution called for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, including in military, police, and civilian roles, as well as in positions of leadership.
After the adoption of Resolution 1325, the United Nations Headquarters, peacekeeping operations and Member States have been working to meet these goals, but progress is far from satisfactory. On the civilian side, the percentage of women recruited, hired and deployed by the Secretariat to work in peacekeeping operations has reached 30 per cent, bringing gender parity well within reach. Progress has been much slower on the uniformed components of UN peacekeeping operations, which Member States contribute and now have less than 3 per cent women. This includes 8 per cent of the 10,000 police officers and 2 per cent of the 80,000 military personnel.
Peacekeeping has evolved from its traditional role of monitoring ceasefire agreements and borders between sovereign States to carrying out large scale multi-dimensional peacekeeping operations often addressing civil wars. These newer missions are mandated to facilitate political processes through the promotion of national dialogue and reconciliation; protect civilians; assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants; support the organization of elections; protect and promote human rights; promote reform of the domestic security sector; and assist in restoring the rule of law.
These expanded responsibilities make the need for more women peacekeepers more pressing than ever. In all of these fields, women peacekeepers have proven that they can perform the same roles, to the same standards and under the same difficult conditions, as their male counterparts. In many cases, women are better-placed to carry out peacekeeping tasks, including interviewing victims of sexual and gender-based violence, working in women’s prisons, assisting female ex-combatants during the process of demobilizing and reintegration into civilian life, and mentoring female cadets at police academies.
Adding to the value of this contribution, female peacekeepers act as role models in the local environment, inspiring, by their very example, women and girls in the often male-dominated societies where they serve. Demonstrating to these women and girls that they can do anything – in the realm of politics, security, law and order, medicine, journalism and beyond – the female blue helmets truly embody the concept, “Power to Empower.”
The General Assembly President's Message on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers
Today we pause to commemorate United Nations peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. We express our appreciation to those men and increasing numbers of women who are now helping to bring stability to war-ravaged societies on behalf of the United Nations and its Member States.
United Nations military, police and civilian personnel across the world are engaged in a range of activities, from disarmament to human rights monitoring. Accomplishments over the last year – from helping to deter the recent invasion of Gaza from spreading to other fronts, to reclaiming the streets of Haiti’s towns from gang violence to protecting people in Darfur -– demonstrate the difference their presence can mean, particularly for vulnerable civilian populations in the midst of continuing violence.
When the Security Council adopted its groundbreaking resolution 1325 in 2000, the aim was to integrate women in peacekeeping, peace making and peace building efforts around the world. These efforts, so important in peace negotiations, now include their participation in the 16 UN peacekeeping operations that are currently deployed. While change is slow, eight per cent of the 10,000 UN police officers and two per cent of the 80,000 military personnel are women.
Women pay the ultimate price for their participation as well. Ten of the 132 peacekeepers who have been killed over the past year were women. We mourn and honour their sacrifices.
The overarching objective of UN peacekeeping efforts is to create space for individuals to resume a normal life, so that children can return to school, ex-fighters can join the workforce, and farmers can use fields once infested with mines to plant crops.
Peacekeepers not only carry out their mandated tasks; they create a lasting legacy by exemplifying how military and police can engage in humanitarian work while interacting respectfully with civil society.
UN operations do more than just silence the guns. Increasingly, they help to foster a culture of sustainable peace in countries devastated by conflict, some that have lasted for decades. On this International Day of Peacekeepers, let us pledge to continue our work to achieve lasting security and ensure that peacekeeping operations possess the resources and the clarity of mission that ensures their effectiveness and their legitimacy in the eyes of the affected population as well as public perception worldwide.
The Secretary-General's Message on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers
The international community’s reliance on United Nations peacekeeping continues to deepen. Deployment is at a record high, with the number of troops, civilians and police totaling more than 113,000.
The personnel who serve under the UN flag do so in some of the most difficult and inhospitable areas on earth, where they face instability, disease and violence on a daily basis. These brave men and women have shown tremendous dedication, making a tangible difference in the lives of many while showing to the world the caring and committed face of the United Nations.
These efforts often come at high cost to the peacekeepers themselves. In 2008, 132 peacekeepers lost their lives in the line of duty – the highest one-year total in the history of UN peacekeeping . Whether felled by acts of violence, disease or accidents, each left an important legacy.
The loss of ten women among those who died reminds us that female personnel are playing an increasingly important role in peacekeeping, and that they now shoulder grave risks as well.
It has been nearly a decade since the Security Council adopted its landmark Resolution 1325 – the first omnibus text to recognize that women bear the brunt of armed conflicts, and should have a commensurate role in their prevention and resolution.
Since then, the United Nations has pressed forward with intensive efforts not only to involve more local women in peacemaking and peacebuilding, but also to recruit more women into our own operations. The point is not to achieve gender parity for its own sake; the imperative is to draw on the unique and powerful contribution women can make. Female blue helmets, human rights monitors and other mission staff offer new skills and styles of functioning in the ever-evolving field of peacekeeping. Often, they can better communicate with local women, generating a greater sense of security while serving as an example of women’s empowerment.
As the Security Council has acknowledged, women frequently suffer most during conflicts, including from horrific acts of sexual- and gender-based violence. By including female police among our ranks, we foster a safe environment for victims to get the help they need and deserve. And by enabling victims to feel secure enough to come forward and press charges against perpetrators, we fight the culture of impunity that has prevailed for too long.
There are still far too few women peacekeepers. With women joining national militaries and police in greater numbers, it is critical that Member States contribute even more female personnel to the United Nations. On this International Day, let us draw on the power of women to strengthen UN peacekeeping while helping women and girls themselves to transform their destinies – and societies – for the better.
Sources:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N02/546/36/PDF/N0254636.pdf?OpenElement
http://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/2009/
http://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/2009/gapres.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/2009/sg.shtml